A crash robustness design for an AC-MPDB based on a bi-directional segmentation scheme

Abstract This paper develops an Advanced Chinese-Moving Progressive Deformable Barrier (AC-MPDB) with a bi-directional block design to address the limitations of existing moving progressive deformable barriers in accurately reflecting the dynamic response of the vehicle-to-vehicle crash. A comprehensive crashworthiness assessment of the AC-MPDB revealed certain stability issues under specific conditions. By analysing the mechanical properties of honeycomb aluminum and the design characteristics of the barrier, the root causes of these stability issues were identified, and corresponding robustness enhancement solutions were proposed. New evaluation indicators were developed for specific conditions, and the proposed solutions were validated and assessed. The results show that the optimized design offers improved crash robustness and can effectively represent the front-end structure of vehicles, providing a reliable tool for future safety evaluation protocols.